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Gareth Southgate: How does his England record compare to other managers? – BBC Sport

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Image caption, From left: Gareth Southgate, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Terry Venables and Bobby Robson have all managed England at major tournaments

  • Author, Michael Emons
  • Role, BBC Sport journalist

Over the past eight years, the Three Lions have reached the semi-finals of a World Cup and suffered final heartbreak at both Euro 2020 and 2024.

But is Southgate the country’s best manager since Sir Alf Ramsey – the only boss to win the World Cup with England?

BBC Sport has looked at every England manager after Ramsey – and you have the chance to rank them in order at the bottom.

Gareth Southgate (2016-2024)

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Image caption, Only Walter Winterbottom (139) and Sir Alf Ramsey (113) have taken charge of more England matches than Gareth Southgate

Tournament record: Fourth at 2018 World Cup, runners-up at Euro 2020, quarter-final at 2022 World Cup, runners-up at Euro 2024.

Overall record: Played 102, won 61, drawn 24, lost 17, scored 213, conceded 72, win ratio 59.8%.

Gareth Southgate took temporary charge of the England side in September 2016, and was unbeaten in four games, earning the role on a permanent basis.

For the first time since 1990, England’s men’s team reached the semi-finals of a World Cup in 2018, losing to Croatia after extra time. They went even further at the European Championship in 2021, but lost to Italy on penalties in the Wembley final.

A quarter-final loss to France in the 2022 World Cup followed. Southgate contemplated leaving the role after that tournament but stayed on, taking England to the final at Euro 2024, where they lost to Spain.

Sam Allardyce (2016)

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Image caption, Sam Allardyce never got to manage England at Wembley, with his only game in charge coming in Trnava, Slovakia

Overall record: Played one, won one, drawn none, lost none, scored one, conceded none, win ratio 100%.

Sam Allardyce became England boss in July 2016 but only managed for one game – a late 1-0 away win against Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier.

He only lasted 67 days before he was dismissed. It followed a newspaper investigation claiming he offered advice on how to “get around” rules on player transfers.

An FA statement said Allardyce’s conduct “was inappropriate” and he was gone.

Roy Hodgson (2012-2016)

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Image caption, Roy Hodgson resigned after England’s loss to Iceland at Euro 2016, although he would have been out of contract at the end of the tournament

Tournament record: Quarter-final at Euro 2012, group stage at 2014 World Cup, last 16 at Euro 2016.

Overall record: Played 56, won 33, drawn 15, lost eight, scored 109, conceded 44, win ratio 58.9%.

After Fabio Capello’s resignation, Roy Hodgson was appointed just before Euro 2012 and he took England to the quarter-finals, where they lost on penalties to Italy.

England remained unbeaten through qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, although they then failed to win a game in Brazil, suffering elimination after losing to Italy and Uruguay in their opening two matches.

The Three Lions won all 10 of their qualifying games to reach Euro 2016 but then suffered one of their most humiliating defeats, 2-1 to Iceland in the last 16, with Hodgson resigning after the game.

Fabio Capello (2008-2012)

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Image caption, Excluding Sam Allardyce’s one game in charge and caretaker bosses, no England manager, including Sir Alf Ramsey, has a better winning percentage than Fabio Capello’s 66.7% (28 wins from 42 matches)

Tournament record: Last 16 at 2010 World Cup, qualified for Euro 2012.

Overall record: Played 42, won 28, drawn eight, lost six, scored 89, conceded 35, win ratio 66.7%.

Italian Fabio Capello, who had successful spells in charge in AC Milan, Real Madrid, Roma and Juventus, became only the second non-British candidate to manage England when he was given the job in December 2007.

England cruised through qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, securing their spot with two games to spare after eight successive victories.

However, they struggled through as group runners-up, after drawing with the United States and Algeria, and were then beaten 4-1 by Germany in the last 16.

England again impressed in qualifying for Euro 2012, but Capello resigned in the February before the finals, less than a week after John Terry had been stripped of the captaincy by the Football Association, with Capello disagreeing with the decision.

Steve McClaren (2006-2007)

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Image caption, Steve McClaren only lasted 18 matches in charge before he was dismissed

Tournament record: Did not qualify for Euro 2008.

Overall record: Played 18, won nine, drawn four, lost five, scored 32, conceded 12, win ratio 50%.

Steve McClaren was named as England manager in May 2006, having taken Middlesbrough to the Uefa Cup final, where they were then thrashed 4-0 by Sevilla.

In Euro 2008 qualifying, England struggled with draws against Macedonia and Israel, but only needed one point from their final two matches to qualify.

However, McClaren’s side lost 2-1 away to Russia and then 3-2 to Croatia on a wet November night at Wembley to miss out, with McClaren sacked the next day.

Sven-Goran Eriksson (2001-2006)

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Image caption, England lost on penalties to Portugal in the quarter-finals at both Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup

Tournament record: Quarter-final at 2002 World Cup, quarter-final at Euro 2004, quarter-final at 2006 World Cup.

Overall record: Played 67, won 40, drawn 17, lost 10, scored 128, conceded 61, win ratio 59.7%.

Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson became the first non-British manager of the England team, taking over in January 2001.

An excellent 5-1 away win in Germany gave England a chance of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, which they did thanks to a dramatic 2-2 draw with Greece, with David Beckham scoring a 93rd-minute equaliser.

Eriksson guided England to three tournaments, but they went out in the quarter-finals in 2002, Euro 2004 and then the 2006 World Cup.

In 2002, they were beaten 2-1 by Brazil and in the other two competitions were eliminated on penalties by Portugal. The 2006 World Cup was always going to be Eriksson’s last in charge of England after he announced five months earlier that he would leave the job when the tournament finished.

Kevin Keegan (1999-2000)

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Image caption, Kevin Keegan was twice named as European Footballer of the Year and played 63 times for England

Tournament record: Group stage at Euro 2000.

Overall record: Played 18, won seven, drawn seven, lost four, scored 26, conceded 15, win ratio 38.9%.

Kevin Keegan was named England manager in February 1999 – they finished well behind Sweden in their qualification group for Euro 2000, but edged past Scotland 2-1 on aggregate in a two-legged play-off to qualify.

England threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Portugal in their opener and led twice before losing 3-2 to Romania, a result that eliminated Keegan’s team in the group phase.

In their first qualifying match for the 2002 World Cup – also the last match at Wembley before its redevelopment – England lost 1-0 at home to Germany, with Keegan resigning immediately afterwards.

Glenn Hoddle (1996-1999)

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Image caption, Glenn Hoddle played for England on 53 occasions during his playing career

Tournament record: Last 16 at the 1998 World Cup.

Overall record: Played 28, won 17, drawn six, lost five, scored 42, conceded 13, win ratio 60.7%.

Glenn Hoddle took over after Euro 1996 and faced a tough qualifying group for the 1998 World Cup. England lost 1-0 at home to Italy, but fought back and an excellent 0-0 away draw in the final group match in Rome secured a place at France 1998.

England finished second in their group – beating Tunisia, losing to Romania and defeating Colombia – setting up a last-16 match with Argentina. Michael Owen scored an excellent goal to put England 2-1 ahead, but Beckham was sent off as the game went to penalties, with Argentina winning 4-3.

Hoddle was sacked in February 1999 following comments he was reported to have made in a newspaper interview about people with disabilities.

Terry Venables (1994-1996)

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Image caption, Terry Venables knew he would only manage England at one tournament as Glenn Hoddle was named his successor before Euro 1996 had started

Tournament record: Semi-final at Euro 1996.

Overall record: Played 24, won 11, drawn 11, lost two, scored 35, conceded 14, win ratio 45.8%.

Terry Venables became England manager in January 1994 and did not have to play any qualifying matches for Euro 1996, with England as hosts.

England began with a draw with Switzerland followed by a 2-0 win over Scotland and then an impressive 4-1 victory over the Netherlands. They edged past Spain on penalties in the quarter-finals and hopes were high of winning the tournament.

But England lost to Germany on spot kicks in the semi-finals, with Southgate missing the decisive penalty.

Graham Taylor (1990-1993)

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Image caption, Graham Taylor became England manager just after he had guided Aston Villa to second place in the old First Division in 1990

Tournament record: Group stage at Euro 1992, did not qualify for 1994 World Cup.

Overall record: Played 38, won 18, drawn 13, lost seven, scored 62, conceded 32, win ratio 47.4%.

Graham Taylor came in after the 1990 World Cup and England qualified for Euro 1992 as group winners, despite only scoring seven goals in six matches.

But England finished bottom of the group at the tournament, drawing with Denmark and France and losing to Sweden.

There followed a disastrous qualifying campaign for the 1994 World Cup, England losing to Norway and the Netherlands as they finished third to miss out on the tournament. In Taylor’s last game in charge, England went a goal behind inside nine seconds against San Marino and, despite winning 7-1, the manager was sacked less than a week later.

Sir Bobby Robson (1982-1990)

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Image caption, Bobby Robson won the FA Cup in 1978 and the Uefa Cup in 1981 with Ipswich Town before becoming England manager

Tournament record: Did not qualify for Euro 1984, quarter-final at 1986 World Cup, group stage at Euro 1988, fourth at 1990 World Cup.

Overall record: Played 95, won 47, drawn 30, lost 18, scored 154, conceded 60, win ratio 49.5%.

Just as Sir Alf Ramsey had done in the 1960s, Sir Bobby Robson became England manager following great success at Ipswich Town, with Robson getting the national job shortly after England were knocked out of the 1982 World Cup.

It was a tough start as England failed to qualify for Euro 1984, coming second behind group winners Denmark. But Robson’s side reached the quarter-finals at the 1986 World Cup, losing 2-1 to Argentina, with Diego Maradona scoring twice, including his infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal, when he punched the ball into the net.

England lost all three games at Euro 1988, but then, for the first time since 1966, reached the semi-finals of a major tournament, before losing on penalties to West Germany in the last four at Italia 90.

Ron Greenwood (1977-1982)

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Image caption, Ron Greenwood guided West Ham to the FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1960s

Tournament record: Did not qualify for 1978 World Cup, group stage of Euro 1980, second group stage of 1982 World Cup.

Overall record: Played 55, won 33, drawn 12, lost 10, scored 93, conceded 40, win ratio 60%.

Ron Greenwood became England manager in August 1977 and despite two 2-0 wins in their final qualifiers, against Luxembourg and Italy, it was not enough to get the team to the 1978 World Cup, with England missing out on goal difference.

England were unbeaten in qualifying for Euro 1980, where they finished third out of four teams in their group and failed to make the final.

They won all three matches in the first group phase at the 1982 World Cup, but two 0-0 draws in the second group phase, against West Germany and Spain, ended England’s tournament and Greenwood’s time in charge.

Don Revie (1974-1977)

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Image caption, Don Revie scored four goals in six England appearances in the 1950s and had great success as Leeds manager, with his trophies including two league titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and two European competitions

Tournament record: Did not qualify for Euro 1976.

Overall record: Played 29, won 14, drawn eight, lost seven, scored 49, conceded 25, win ratio 48.3%.

In July 1974, Don Revie accepted the job of England manager after Sir Alf Ramsey had been sacked two months earlier.

Revie, a hugely successful manager with Leeds United, failed to take England to Euro 1976, although only four nations qualified for the later stages. England needed to win their qualifying group, but a loss to Czechoslovakia and a draw with Portugal left them second.

After four of six qualifying games for the 1978 World Cup, Revie announced, via an interview with the Daily Mail, that he was to leave the England role and had accepted a lucrative offer to become the manager of the United Arab Emirates’ side.

Rank the managers

Use the form below to rank your favourite England managers and share your results after you’ve completed it.

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